Slopestyle and Specialty Prize Winners Announced for 2016 Park and Pipe Open Series

In the final round of voting for The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series Virtual Competition (PPOS), judges met in Salt Lake City to judge the slopestyle discipline and to choose winners for specialty prize categories, including Best Trick, Clif Bar Two Trick Pony and the Best 100% GoPro Edit.

“It’s cool to see kids have a chance to compete where they feel comfortable, riding their home mountains and hitting their home jumps,” says head PPOS judge Jason Arens. “A big shout out to Etienne Brochu of Le Relais, Quebec who was super competitive in the amateur field while skiing jumps that were smaller than some of the other kids had available. With less air time, he had to spin faster than those on bigger jumps to get his tricks dialed.”

The slopestyle competition was fierce with 65 finalists. In the end, Colby Stevenson of Alta came out on top, winning first place for the men’s open/pro category. Darian Stevens of Montana Snowbowl took home first place in slopestyle for the women’s open/pro category. Slopestyle final results can be seen below.

Tom Wallisch, The North Face athlete and World Champion skier, has selected Colby Stevenson of Alta Ski Resort as the Grand Prize Winner of the 2016 Park and Pipe Open Series.

“Thanks to everyone who submitted footage this year,” said Wallisch. “Because of his stand out performance in the slopestyle category and his solid submission in halfpipe, I have chosen Colby Stevenson to join the Good Company and myself for a trip filming and skiing this spring. Stevenson has some of the best style we have seen and will be an asset to the crew.” The Grand Prize includes travel, ground transportation, lift tickets, lodging and a year-long sponsorship by Clif Bar.

Nikita Rubocki of Bogus Basin was awarded the Viewer’s Choice Award for the series with 1,404 votes from the public on her slopestyle edit. Rubocki will take home a full outerwear kit by The North Face valued at $1,000.

The North Face gave a $2,000 scholarship to the resort, club or team that had the most video submissions entered into 2016 PPOS. With 19 video submissions, Park City United was awarded the scholarship. Team members Ashton Glass, Zane Severson and Marin Hamill placed first in their categories, with a number of others medaling in the competition.

The award for Best Trick led to much debate. In the end, Brendan Mackay was chosen for his perfectly executed left double cork 10 safety in the halfpipe. It was one of the more unique things we saw in the pipe,” said The North Face Athlete and PPOS judge, Chris Laker. “It’s a classic trick you see on jumps all the time. He not only executed it with awesome style and fluidity, but he did it in a halfpipe!”

Clif Bar Two Trick Pony Award was given to Broby Leeds of Vail for his halfpipe and slopestyle submissions and Caroline Claire of Mount Snow for her big air and slopestyle submissions. “Shout out to Leeds for killing it in two categories,” said Jon Susman Head USSA judge and PPOS judge. “There are not many skiers able to transcend multiple disciplines, especially slopestyle and halfpipe.” Leeds and Claire will receive $1,000 each for the best overall performance in more than one discipline.

Axl Bonenberger of Breckenridge will receive a fresh GoPro with his win of Best 100% GoPro Edit.

A huge thank you to all the skiers, filmers, park crew members, parents, older siblings, resort staff, video editors, industry partners and judges. Without you, this competition wouldn’t be possible. So thank you.